₦airaland Forum

Dr Olusegun Ajiboye, ASUU University of Ibadan branch chairman shares why the Finance Minister of the federation should be blamed for the ongoing ASUU Strike.


This is a government that signed an agreement with us on January 24, 2012, to the effect that they would inject N100bn as funding into the universities in the first month; and that before the end of 2012, they would inject another N300 bn.”

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala increasingly is cutting a sorry figure as Finance Minister. And nothing has demonstrated this fact more than her utterances on the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
To start with, she announced, as if it was true, that government cannot pay the N92 billion causing the present palaver. She turned out to be wrong on three counts at least – none of which does her reputation as a global financial expert any good. It was poor defence and exposed her as someone who did not do her homework very well before commenting on a vital national issue.
First, as Dr Ajiboye pointed out, N92 billion represented a figment of the imagination of the former World Bank Managing Director. Ajiboye, a valid representative of all the ASUU creditors, told us that the amount due to them was N87 billion; not N92 billion. Even for a wasteful administration, overpaying by N5 billion would have been reprehensible. There is a lot of good work which government can do with N5 billion instead of throwing it away carelessly. Throwing public money away carelessly was what led to the fuel subsidy scam which tarnished her reputation in 2011/2012 when she jumped into the fray without checking her facts properly.
Second, her statement about government’s inability to pay lacked credibility and was soon discredited by the President. There is a distinct difference between “can’t pay” and “won’t pay”. The former admits of financial weakness or destitution; the latter connotes willful refusal to honour an agreement into which government voluntarily entered.
For the Minister of a government which allowed the country to be defrauded of over N1 trillion to claim that government cannot pay N92 billion or less than one per cent, is an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians and discredit to government itself. As if to prove that the Minister spoke, not for government but herself, the President a few days after ordered that more than N92 billion be released to the universities. That order by Jonathan had elevated Okonjo-Iweala’s claim from the realm of the incredible to a colossal lie. Where will government find N100 billion to carry out the President’s instructions if it cannot afford N92 billion?
But, all those pale by comparison with Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s real contribution to this awful national calamity. Read Dr Ajiboye’s assertions again and the astute reader can readily see the genesis of this whole mess. In January last year, long after the 2013 budget had been presented to the National Assembly, obviously with no provisions for paying the N87 billion owed to ASUU, the President, who at that time was facing a national revolt on account of fuel price increase from N65 per litre to N141 did not want another ASUU strike to add to the uprising. So, government, perhaps ill-advisedly and hastily promised ASUU N400 billion additional money; that brought the total debt payable in 2013 to N487 billion.
Call it incompetence or lack of courage and/or integrity, but given a 2012 budget, from which any provisions for ASUU had been excluded, promising eleven per cent of last year’s budget to the academic staff of universities was fraudulent. When Jonathan Swift, 1667-1745, wrote that, “Promises, like pie-crusts, are made to be broken”, (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p203), he must have had a government like the present one in mind. It is one government on whose promises nobody should rely. So 2012 ended without government honouring its agreements. That was bad enough.


Any financial officer, involved in budgeting, knows that when planning the budget for any year, you must take into account all the bills past due as well as those likely to fall due during the year – if the decision is to pay. They can only be ignored if there is a willful and conscious decision not to pay and to damn the consequences.
The fiasco this time around has occurred because the Finance Minister either forgot to make provisions for paying the N487 billion, not even N92 billion as she claimed, or because she deliberately excluded those outstanding bills. Forgetting such a huge liability demonstrates incompetence and gross negligence – for which the nation is now paying dearly. Remembering that the debts are long overdue and deliberately ignoring them is proof beyond reasonable doubt of lack of budgetary integrity. It does not require the towering intelligence of a Harvard graduate to predict the outcome of that benign neglect of government’s obligations.
Unfortunately for the government, for the Minister and all the other stakeholders, “All things do help the unhappy man to fall”, according to Shakespeare, 1564-1616, this years budget is in shreds. The same Finance Minister has been leading the government officials telling us about the shortfall in revenue on account of alleged crude oil theft. As much as 400,000 barrels a day is stolen – apparently with government helpless to check the pillage.
A recent report estimated that oil revenue in July of this year dropped by 42% compared to the same period last year. By a cruel twist of fate, the country had moved from won’t pay closer to can’t pay. There is no money in the budget to pay ASUU N487 billion; that is certain. Just as sure is the fact that, even if Okonjo-Iweala had not been careless, there probably would have been no money to pay the entire bill.
Realising the government’s partly self-imposed predicament, Jonathan had approved part payment of the outstanding debts. Ordinarily, that should have induced Nigerians to rise up and urge ASUU to accept the half-loaf and wait till next year for the balance. However, given government’s reputation as a dead-beat, on whose words nobody can rely, there has been no outcry against ASUU for refusing the offer. This is the closest thing to an economic Mexican stand-off that anyone can imagine and only divine intervention can resolve the mess – thanks to the Finance Minister; who should know better. Nobody, with the minutest experience in drawing up budgets should have made that mistake.
The most important question now is: will the 2014 budget reflect the payment due to ASUU – even if the lecturers accept the offered half-loaf? If it does not, ASUU’s return to the campuses will be short-lived. They will be out again in 2014.
Finally, the Finance Minister has probably antagonized the one group every public office holder should avoid at all costs. University dons are not only articulate, they are the most vocal group in the country and the most influential opinion molders. Henceforth, they will cease every opportunity to cut her down to size. This episode, however it ends, has once again raised the possibility that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala might not be around much longer. She was recruited to build confidence in the government’s economic policy team.
Starting with her staunch defence of the subsidy removal, based on falsified data, she had stumbled from one controversy to another. Instead of offering solutions, she is increasingly perceived as part of the problem. She probably has not come across that famous statement by Arthur Dewing in the Harvard Business Review, October 1923. “Behind the facts of economics are the facts of psychology..the emotions of fear and confidence… “. A lot of people are losing, or have lost confidence in the Minister. That’s bad for her and bad for Nigeria.

http://www.informationng.com/2013/09/blame-finance-minister-for-strike-ASUU.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, will today hand the Federal Government a 21–day ultimatum to tackle the myriad of challenges and anomalies confronting the country’s health system or face another industrial action.
This is coming on the heels of the suspension of a nine-day indefinite strike by the Medical and Health Workers Union after government agreed to their demands.
In a communique issued at the end of its 2013 National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Sokoto at the weekend, NMA said the ultimatum was also for the Federal Government to resolve the ongoing destruction of what they described as “the fabric of professionalism and hierarchical order in Nigeria’s public hospitals and the health sector.”
The communique, jointly signed by the President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele and the Secretary-General, Dr. Akpufuoma Pemu, said the non-negotiable stance of the NEC is the enthronement of professionalism and international best practices.


“NEC resolved not to further tolerate the dislocation and unqualified suffering of doctors and other health workers, who are being owed salaries due to non-payment of wages occasioned by recurrent irregularities in the implementation of the centralised integrated personnel payroll information system, IPPIS.
“Since the commencement of the implementation of IPPIS in federal public hospitals, it has greatly undermined the welfare of doctors many of whom have had to endure over three months of non-payment of salaries due to the irregularities in the implementation of IPPIS.
“NEC, therefore, calls on government to urgently correct the numerous deficiencies within the next 21 days or stop the use of IPPIS as a means of payment of the salaries of doctors in public hospitals, pending when the irregularities in the IPPIS are sorted out with a perfect innocuous system put in place.”
The doctors also decried the delay in the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, despite several appeals made by NMA to the government, saying that MDCN remains greatly handicapped by the fact that there was no judge/council chairman to preside over investigated cases brought before it.

http://www.informationng.com/2013/09/another-strike-imminent-in-the-health-sector-as-nma-gives-fg-a-21-day-ultimatum.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Now they are talking. The ippis issue is really a big problem to say the least,a lot of my colleagues haven't been paid for 3 months. My salary was slashed dunno where some fraction of it went(been battling them in the accounts department and all we are told is salaries are been paid from abuja) some people are now been paid what they don't deserve in form of allowances. Its indeed really sad that a system we felt would be better is now worse,salaries now come first week of the next month compared to 25th to 30th of the month

This is so weird!!! 19 year Brazilian Adriana Andrade woke up in the hospital after swallowing her mobile phone,she did this to prevent her boyfriend Renato from reading the text messages on her cellphone.when he demanded to see them she took off running and when she was far enough away, she did the unthinkable… swallowed the mobile phone.
she had to undergo an operation to get the cellphone removed.



http://www.informationng.com/2013/09/girlfriend-swallows-phone-to-prevent-her-boyfriend-from-reading-the-text-messages.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Do you even know anything about history? In Iraq it was WMD and all of a sudden it turned out to be regiem change(even though Sadam didn't have wmd) am always scekptical about issues like this but then Assad the ophthalmologist has been there for too long and its time for his ass to be kicked.Arabs aren't ripe for democracy though,they need dictators to hold them on a short leash cos those people are so damn volatile and erratic. Mark my words this onslaught is to topple Assad no doubt,I just feel pity for the innocent ones that would be caught up in the showdown

malele: Usa plan is not to remove assad, chemical weapon use is a violention of Un rules, so it has to be addressed to check its further use in the future.
dey want to destroy assad capability of using chemical weapons.

For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.”
Isaiah 9:16 . Let them alone: they be leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Matt 15:14

I was going to be silent on this sad, pathetic but true (in many shades) allegation against Pastor B and his popular and
trendy ministry. My silence was borne out of respect for the kingdom of God and things that pertain to God. But all this changed when I heard the horrific tales of people who had been through the mess of this blind man, and the fact that he had nomoral motivation to deny or accept the allegation; all he showed on Sunday was a demented swagger and perverse talk.

My sole purpose in writing this piece is to open the eyes of the world and believers tothe hypocrisy and nonsense behind the pulpit, and to plea that these wolves and blind men stop deflating the faith of people who Christ died for. I am a Pastor, afull time minister at that, and I shall not sitback while the name of my God, the ministry, and theworks of other shepherds is brought to disrepute by the activities, action and inaction of a few blind men behind the pulpit.

I am tired of the nonsense of religion crying out, “touch not my anointed”; does this mean we cannot rebuke ourselves when we err, this much Paul did to Peter when he erred in Galatians 2:11 “But whenPeter was come to Antioch, I withstood himto the face, because he was to be blamed”. It is thereforepertinent that I rebuke the wolves in shepherd’s clothing’s. It is time to set the record straight, and please don’t sell me the bullocks of judge not, I haven’t said anyone is going to hell, but of course if they don’t change, they have only one path.
It is high time we told the truth, which is plain, simple and without coloration.

The stories of Franca and Ese is not only true but they are just a few tales of the tantalizing sex escapades of this clergy. This has been arecurring decimal in the ministry of the clergyman. This wasn’t the first time these stories will come forth, for those old COZA members, for those who were there when he was in Ilorin, when the church moved to Pipeline Road, Ilorin, having left Kwara Hotel, they will remember there was a time when the Pastor was suspended from ministering by his Father in the Lord, Rev Oset of CanaanMinistries. Rev. Oset sent guest ministers to the church every Sunday after that, but still Pastor B in his deceit will still minister in the pretence of introducing the guest minister, while he exhorts for minutes. I therefore laugh in mockery when He says his wife loves him, the woman has no choice. His core circle of Pastor Wole (Ilorin Chapter, the only man who maybe clean), and Pastor Flo (COZA, Lagos) knows of this fact, little wonder Ese said Pastor Flo said he knows about their adventures in that hotel room in London.

This is not the story of a hater; I don’t want or envy anything he has. He cannot ever have what I have and carry; neither do I crave for what he has. I am sure no one in the city of Ilorin, where this man started is bemused by these stories, no one who finished from the University of Ilorin during the period of 2003-2008, and was not a blinded COZA member can be mightily shocked at these revelations. I have heard tales of many more victims, I even heard from a woman who knows five friends who were victims, I saw it online the other day of a guy who said he formally works for him and he knows up to 130 people, outrageous as it may sound that too is true. Rev Oset in true conscience cannot deny the knowledge of these negatives. But we are a nation of hypocrites and religious folks; we ask no questions of leaders, so they can hide under the canopy of religion, even when they are filthy. Anyone who asks is rebuked by those who say, the bible says pray. It is sad that those who say pray themselves have not prayed. But Pastor B is just a decimal in an ever mounting number of wolves in the Church of Christ.

Someone told me yesterday that this can’t be the end of him and his tyranny, because even in Ilorin in those days, the allegation was rolled under the rug. On Sunday, August25, 2013, the man leading certain blind menunder the veil of religion and ‘spiritism’ said God told him not to say anything, he then said they are preparing a robust response. Who is fooling who? We must not keep quiet and watch the bride of Christ, the church, rubbed and undignified in mud and slime bya filthily rich pastor who thinks he can do anything and get away with it.
It is a pity that we run sensational press and media outfit in this country, and that our press is blinded by religion. If this were to be‘saner’ climes the press would by now be researching, there would by now be investigative journalism. The truth would be dogged up and resurrected to life. For this is not about a mistake that a Pastor made, it is about a filthy man’s way of life.

And then about, “teaching a new level of grace’; please be reminded that Grace is not a license to sin, rather it empowers us to live above sin. Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” In my years of being a Christian, studying God’s word, preaching the gospel, listening to sound teachers, I have not heardof a grace that gives permission to sin. Stop being deceived, grace is the new dispensation, according to Hebrew 8:6-12, and under grace we do not follow any writtencode, law or traditions. That is done away with. The tablet of Moses is over with. But weare not reckless sinners; we are under a new covenant based on better promises. God’s law is written in our minds and hearts. We live according to His dictates. The Holy Spirit and our conscience convicts and judges us respectively. This is the only way we live a holy life. God’s strength and empowerment is the grace to do according to that written by God in our hearts and minds.

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I write this with a heavy heart, though I wish I never had to write this, but I pray this madness stops. I know many who have stopped going to church, many whose faith has been derailed by the act of madness of this man, and many blind men like him. If they are not going to heaven, let them stop taking men out of the straight and narrow. No one understands the pain in meeting a man, whose faith has been derailed by a man who was supposed to help establish him. For such a man, words can’t bring him back, the best we can do is to pray and hope. I indulge the clergy to be of a higher moral standard.

My candid advice to the church at this end time is that the church must grow in knowledge; it’s high time we stopped bamboozling you. You must stop making idols of men. You must stop making men such as I, substitute for the Holy Ghost. Honour us; revere us… but that is where it ends. Without the Call, the Oil, and the Holy Spirit; we are mere mortal. But know for sure that this too shall pass; only the truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom abides forever.

For Pastor B and his sense making COZA people, remember the word of Christ in Matthew 15:14. How many of you even live life bearing the fruit of righteousness. Stop being blind, the ditch is close by. Look into this case, ask your pastor questions, seek genuine answers and not emotional rhetorics, hold him responsible, and do not forget the word of God, “then shall they know if they follow to know…” I am sure evidence abound. Seek to know from some key PCU members (who may need to be deposited in Gods ICU). Its time you hear notonly about grace, but HOLINESS without which no one will see the Lord.

Finally don’t bother praying against me, I can say like Paul, “For me to die is gain, to live is Christ”, but I cannot even go now, because I am yet to fully finish the task set before me. Don’t waste your time using misguided scriptural interpretation. This I write is true, and I am sorry if you don’t like it. Your Pastor, and every other wolf whose conscience is not seared knows it is the complete true.

God bless you.
God bless His Church.
God bless Nigeria
From
Pastor J
http://metronaija.com/pastor-j-of-gods-house-abuja-accuses-pastor-biodun-fatoyinbo-of-adultery/#.UiG5BdtzQTg.twitter

When yar adua was the president who was the vice president? Government is all about continuity and I think as a former member of ASUU the president should have been more sensitive to their plight. In all fairness am so sad at the academic imbroglio presently playing out,I know how it feels staying at home and not gradusting at the appropriate time. Back then in 2000 courtesy ASUU strike and SUG wahala in Uniben we suffered by losing a year,imagine I was supposed to spend 6 yrs in school and ended up spending 7 years. I pray all this strike issue is resolved on time. God bless Nigeria

Sam0: No body should just put the blame on GEJ,becox when all the agreement was made with ASSU he knew ntn about it,he was just unlucky to meet all this shits rocking our country.

The Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, has announced that the lawmakers have decided to ask Governor Danbaba Suntai to go back to the United States to continue his treatment.

The lawmakers asked the governor to return to the U.S. to continue his rehabilitation programme and only come back to run his office when he is fully fit.

Mr. Tsokwa, who addressed journalists in Jalingo on Thursday morning, said the decision of members followed their visit to Mr. Suntai on Wednesday night.

He said the lawmakers were convinced Mr. Suntai is not fit to return to office.


http://metronaija.com/breaking-news-taraba-lawmakers-bar-governor-suntai-resuming-duties/

What is this one saying? Do you know the reasons for the strike? Get your facts right before coming on social media to display whatever it is you have done here.who said that health workers want to head the health sector(they don't have the balls to make such demands) they have some entitlements that needs to be sorted out and also the issue of the scrapping of level 10 that was resolved by the industrial court but has not been implemented amongst many other issues. Do you think doctors can run the hospitals alone?

Odud uwaboy: Nooooooooo.....! They should not return to work o. Let them keep agitating for things that don't belong to them.

The health sector in Nigeria will know no peace until the concerned unions recognise the natural rights of doctors to head the sector ....the arguments for this are many and logical.

It wasa a merger between UBA and Standard Trust Bank(STB)[quote author=Mynd_44]You must have missed where he showed interest on behalf of Transcorp which he does not own.

And you even mentioned UBA, does Elumelu own UBA? Remember the UBA we see now is a merger of the old UBA and another (don't remember the name now). He was MD of the other bank but was made MD of the new bank based on his leadership qualities.

Stop this silly witch hunt. It is silly[/quote]

The Rivers Peoples’ Forum, RPF, has said that it would mobilize the people of Rivers State for the mother of all protests to push for the arrest and prosecution of the Nigeria’s minister of state for education, Nyesom Wike.

The group said the protest was as a result of the continued refusal of the police to arrest and prosecute minister after he had allegedly openly threatened the lives of Rivers people, and the peace and security of the state.

Wike, was at a Grassroot Democratic Initiative, GDI event in Port Harcourt quoted as saying that, “for those who think that they can destroy Obio-Akpor (Local Government Council), we will make life uncomfortable for them. We will make sure they will not sleep again. When they are sleeping, they will not sleep with their two eyes closed. One eye will be open because they know there is danger”.

Wike was referring to the former Chairman and Councilors of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area who were suspended by the Rivers State House of Assembly to enable the House carry out investigations of alleged monumental fraud and corruption against them.

However, RPF had last week called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the junior minister over the comments, which they described as dangerous to democracy in the country, threatening to the peace and security of Rivers State, adding that it could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the state.

RPF in the statement signed by its President, Charles Bekwele described the comments of Wike as a direct threat to the good people of Rivers State, since the Assembly members acted on behalf of the people who elected and mandated the Assembly members to represent them.



The group said, “It is a shame, an outrage that the police instead of arresting and prosecuting Wike is allowing him to arrogantly and pompously roam the streets, making more provocative and hateful comments against the state and its people”, the group said in a statement, Monday.

“And this is the same police that have declared wanted and arrested supporters of Governor Amaechi for extremely flimsy reasons. So why are they not arresting a man who openly threatened the people, the peace and security of the State? Is Nyesom Wike above the law?”

“Again, we are calling on the Inspector-General of Police: Arrest and prosecute Nyesom Wike now for threatening the lives of Rivers people, for threatening the peace and security of Rivers State. As a matter of fact, his comments are dangerous to our democracy, Wike is a danger to our democracy. Since that young man (Wike) was appointed junior minister, he has carried on like a demi-god, acting like he’s above the law. Wike’s excesses must be brought to a halt. Rivers people have had enough of Wike’s shenanigans. And the time to act is now.

“This is a man who has practically abandoned his job at the ministry of education for politics and political campaigns. Every week, Wike is in Rivers State campaigning, he claims to be campaigning for Mr. President but that’s a big fat lie. Except he’s saying that Mr. President has commenced campaigns for 2015. He’s campaigning for his own governorship, even when he knows there’s no vacancy, at least for now.

“We are ready to march on the streets of Port Harcourt if the police refuse to act and allow this impunity and aggression by one man against the people of the state to continue. This will be the mother of all protests as we shall mobilize Rivers people from all over to come out and tell the police in very lucid terms that they will not allow Nyesom Wike to threaten their lives, their peace and security while the police whose duty it is to protect us, do nothing to protect the people. This is the time to arrest and prosecute Wike


http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/08/14/rivers-crisis-group-plans-protest-to-push-for-wikes-arrest/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=rivers-crisis-group-plans-protest-to-push-for-wikes-arrest

I just wonder how and what she has been teaching her pupils,damn a lot of water has gone under the bridge. She must be sacked as soon as possible and the recruitment process should undergo close scrutiny like it used to before. I can vividly remember how a teacher was using my mum's NCE certificate in the same benin that my mum(God bless her soul) was also teaching and the then commissioner of education Abel Guobadia(God bless his soul) caught her during a verification process and she was sacked and taken to court

The verification of certificates of primary school teachers in Edo State ordered by Governor Adams Oshiomhole has started fishing out unworthy teachers, with the discovery of one on Tuesday, who could not read a sworn affidavit tendered as part of her credentials.


The teacher, Mrs. Augusta Odemwinge of Asologun Primary School, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state stuttered as she was asked to read what was written on her affidavit before the state governor.
Oshiomhole, who paid an unscheduled visit to the state Staff Training Centre, venue of the exercise, said “if you can’t read, what do you teach the pupils, what do you write on the board?”
The governor had on arrival at the centre, checked some of the teachers’ credentials and documents presented.
When it was Mrs. Odenwingie’s turn, the governor listened as he asked her to read the affidavit she presented, but she stuttered, to the consternation of everyone present at the venue.


Chairman of the state Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr. Patrick Ikosimi, who was also at the screening to monitor the exercise, said that the woman’s failure was “an embarrassment.”
Ikosimi, who described Mrs. Odemwingie’s failure to read a document she presented as an embarrassment, said the union was in tune with the state government on the need to sanitise the school system.
“We are committed to partnering the government to reposition education in the state. What this teacher has just displayed is a show of shame; it shows the decadence in the education sector.
“As the chairman of NUT, I had written to the governor that we are in total support of what he is doing.
“He should properly involve the NUT, so that together we can fish out the culprits, who are not viable as far as the system is concerned,” Ikosimi said.



http://www.informationng.com/2013/08/drama-in-edo-as-teacher-cant-read-her-document.html

I am so sad. It could have been a loved one of any of us,what are Nigerians turning into? This must stop. NO TO JUNGLE JUSTICE. My heart bleeds. Rest in peace Samuel may your killers never know peace. It will follow their generations onborn amen. This is beyond comprehension

A 26-year-old National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member serving in Bayelsa State, Miss Folakemi Akinbode, is now struggling for her life at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, following a brutal attack from suspected cultists.

The incident occurred, Monday, at about 8.30pm at Obunagha community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

Miss Akinbode, an indigene of Ondo State, a graduate Nurse of the Madonna University serving at NDU Teaching Hospital was returning from work when she was ambushed by two suspected cultists along a lonely bush path leading to the corpers’ lodge where she resides.

Her right hand was almost chopped off by her assailants who are now at large.
It was learnt that but for the hand she raised to defend herself the attackers could have killed her as the machete was aimed at her head.
The victim was said to have ran to the lodge with her injuries shouting “help, help, help…” after which she collapsed and lost consciousness due to excessive bleeding from the almost severed hand.
A source told our correspondent that “though she had been given three pints of blood, she isyet to regain consciousness.”
Troubled by the development, the traditional ruler of the community, Chief Apoh Godgive, the Ibolou XI, was said to have ordered the immediate setting up of vigilante group in thecommunity with a view to fishing out the perpetrators of the crime.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident, saying the command has launched manhunt for the fleeing attackers


http://metronaija.com/photo-cultists-machete-female-nysc-member-in-bayelsa/#.UgFmMP5VZCA.twitter

Good job by the police. He has been arrested.
Nigerian Police arrest officer caught on tape demanding bribe: http:///iAIRZ8epTq

biafranqueen: United Kingdom
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 80.9 percent
General government debt: $1.99 trillion
GDP per capita (PPP): $35,860
Nominal GDP: $2.46 trillion
Unemployment rate: 8.4 percent
Credit rating: Aaa

Germany
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 81.8 percent
General government debt: $2.79 trillion
GDP per capita (PPP): $37,591
Nominal GDP: $3.56 trillion
Unemployment rate: 5.5 percent
Credit rating: Aaa

France
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 85.4 percent
General government debt: $2.26 trillion
GDP per capita (PPP): $33,820
Nominal GDP: $2.76 trillion
Unemployment rate: 9.9 percent
Credit rating: Aaa

United States
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 85.5 percent
General government debt: $12.8 trillion
GDP per capita (PPP): $47,184
Nominal GDP: $15.13 trillion
Unemployment rate: 8.3 percent
Credit rating: Aaa

Nigeria
Debt as a percentage of GDP:20.77 percent
General government debt:$6.3 billion
GDP per capita (PPP)$3,460.00
Nominal GDP:$244 billion
Unemployment rate:23.9%
Credit rating:BB-

Nigeria's debt is not that bad actually If we can use the money wisely is the question.

and can you compare the standard of living of these countries to that of nigeria,development wise or in relation to good governance can we be compared as well? Let's call it what it is this government is borrowing too much with little to show for it.

You beat me to it,this story is so deep and it reminds me of how my dad stood by and took care of my mum for 2 good years before she succumed to cancer. God bless this dude,he is indeed an angel.

nitlad: [url=en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Walk_to_Remember][size=18pt]A Walk To Remember![/size][/url]

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V96uhfQ0x9A

Shame on you, you don't even have details yet and you are posting this? People like you heat up the polity for no just course

pistol: The chicken has finally come home to roost.
APC has been officially merged.
Conglomeration of terrorists,bigots and clowns.
The worst is yet to unfold.

BREAKING NEWS- Jonathan Accepts To Recognize Amaechi As NGF Chairman
On 30-07-2013 Written by walesky



Days after a peace meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and some governors who have been up in arms againsthim, indications have emerged that he has decided to accept the outcome of the May 24election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum where Governor Rotimi Amaechi was elected as Chairman.

The is even as President Jonathan is insistingthat Amaechi should apologize to him:
Consequently, the five Northern governors have made a commitment to Jonathan that Governor Amaechi who won the NGF election, would be advised to apologise him.

The apology promise, according to Leadership, was as a result of the strong exceptions President Jonathan took to some disparaging remarks Governor Amaechi personally made against his (Jonathan) person in the course of the debacle.
The president was said to have expressed his displeasure over Amaechi’s remarks to some visiting governors.

The governors who met with the president atthe Presidential Villa on Saturday are those of Niger State, Muazu Babangida Aliyu; Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso; Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako; Sokoto State, Aliyu Wammako; and Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.

http://metronaija.com/breaking-news-jonathan-accepts-to-recognize-amaechi-as-ngf-chairman/

Former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has accused the chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, of demanding a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) – 2013 Range Rover – from him to enable him emerge the party’s flag-bearer for the 2014 Ekiti governorship elections.


The former governor, who was suspended by Mr. Ogundipe for allegedly invading the state party’s secretariat with hoodlums penultimate weekend, further accused the state PDP chairman of using divide and rule tactics.
But Mr. Ogundipe has denied the allegations leveled against him by Mr. Fayose, who he called a ‘pathological liar’ and blackmailer adding that he is a man of honour and neither is he ‘hungry.’
Both politicians made this known in separate interviews granted the PUNCH. Excerpts:
It was in the news that you and some other members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State have been suspended. What exactly is the situation and what led to it?
“Nobody can suspend you from a party without the input of your ward. It is the party at the ward level that will suspend an errant member. Later, it will be ratified at the local council and state levels. It will then move from the zone to the national level. So, that suspension is laughable. The chairman has no such capacity. What informed all that is very clear; he wants to do what they call a consensus. He just wants to pick a candidate for the governorship election, which I objected to. He set up a committee that quite clearly represents the interest of a particular aspirant. And this committee he set up does not derive its power from the constitution of the party. The chairman has neither a fiat nor a directive from the National Working Committee of the party to do so. The powers to decide on the primaries of governorship aspirant are initiated from the national leadership, according to our constitution. He asked every aspirant to pay a non-refundable deposit of N2m and issued them receipts. He gave me a form EKPDP/Gov/2014 Serial number 002, which means I was the second person to pay. You cannot tell somebody to pay a non-refundable deposit and still be the person to choose who becomes the candidate. If you were asked to bid for a job and you obtain a form and pay a non-refundable amount of money, is it the people that put forth the form that will equally determine who wins the tender? No. It must be done through a transparent process in accordance with the guidelines stated before the fees were paid. There must be due process as allowed by the constitution. My suspension is laughable and meaningless. It is like somebody taking his own heart out of his body or stopping his heart from pumping. I’m the engine room of PDP in Ekiti State. Time will tell. Our priority is that the party should win elections.”
Are you accusing the PDP chairman of trying to impose a candidate for the election?


“There was an interview granted by the PDP chairman in SUNDAY PUNCH of July 14, 2013, where he accused the Action Congress of Nigeria of endorsing (Governor Kayode) Fayemi and the title was ‘ACN endorsement of Fayemi despotic – PDP chairman.’ The heading of the Crossfire read: Ekiti State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, in this interview, says it is undemocratic and unconstitutional for the Action Congress of Nigeria to adopt Kayode Fayemi for another term without testing his popularity at the primary.’ He said again, ‘The action is not only despotic; it is also criminal, crude, uncivilised and unconstitutional. Of course, you can’t expect anything better than that from ACN. They are not used to conducting primary elections; there is no internal democracy in their party, they run it like a cult.’ Can’t we now conclude that the chairman is doing exactly what he accused ACN of doing?
“The same chairman emerged in the PDP congress of March 2012, through a democratic process. My position is that you can’t probate and reprobate at the same time. He promised the people in the South Senatorial District that he would zone it (governorship slot) to them. He promised another set of people that he was setting up the committee because of them. He is using divide and rule. I made it clear that I would not appear before such a panel because it does not take its emergence from the constitution of the party. Seven or eight members of the working committee in the state wrote and rejected the composition of the consensus committee. They signed to reject it. They said the committee was not supposed to be because it did not comply with the constitution of the party. And at different times, the party members in all the 16 local government areas in the state have resisted what the chairman is doing. Within themselves, they had issues; some accused him of collecting money from an aspirant. He had said if I could buy him 2013 Range Rover, then I could rest assured that I would get the ticket. I’m the one that brought all of them into the executive. So, I don’t understand why he should start giving conditions and asking for such money. I told him point blank that I can’t grant his request.”
But in his response, Mr. Ogundipe said, “The genesis of the crisis is far from what they are saying. With time, you will know the genesis of the crisis. No, I did not collect N5m. There is no N5m on the table and there is no basis for me to collect N5m from anybody. It is so cheap for me to collect N5m as the chairman of the greatest party in Africa. Some people tell lies as their stock-in-trade. I am an honourable person and I have told all of them ‘don’t come to my house, don’t go to the deputy chairman’s house because he is also an aspirant.’ So, I’ve not made myself available to the aspirants because what we are doing is a serious business and by the time I collect money from aspirants, who will I support?” he asked rhetorically.
On the allegation that he demanded a brand new 2013 Range Rover from one of the aspirants in exchange for the governorship ticket of the PDP, the state chairman countered, “I never demanded any vehicle from Fayose or anybody. I have neither demanded money nor anything to favour any of the aspirants. I’m a man of honour and I’m not hungry.  I have vehicles and I cannot drive two vehicles at the same time. He was suspended and he never believed he could be suspended by the party. But what we are saying is that this is a new PDP, there must be discipline. We are not here to oppress or suppress anybody but I was elected to lead the party aright and that is exactly what I am doing. He lied. I never demanded anything from him or anybody.”
When asked that his denial of the allegation could only mean that the former governor lied against him, Mr. Ogundipe concurred stressing, “This man is a pathological liar and it is unfortunate that he can go to this extent to blackmail me. It is really sad that he has resorted to using blackmail. Everybody knows his character.





http://www.informationng.com/2013/07/2014-ekiti-guber-election-pdp-chairman-demanded-range-rover-in-exchange-for-ticket-fayose-%e2%80%a2he-is-a-pathological-liar-chairman-fires-back.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Oyegun should go and rest jor. What did he do or rather achieve when he was governor of edo state?he should just watch and let GEJ do his thing or he will get the tongue lashing of his life. Just maybe he is trying to seek political relevance[quote author=amadi_bethel@ya]Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the first civilian governor of Edo State, is one man who craved, long ago, for an alternative national political party that can check the seeming arrogance of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the federal level. to continue click here http://www.amadibethel..com/2013/07/news-jonathan-is-disgracing-nigerians.html[/quote]

liberty300: Thank God he wasn't black

The link can always be established but I eagerly await the middle east connection. RIP to the dead,may God in his infinite mercy console the family

God be with you as always especially during this period. Gbawe's advise was so on point. God bless you sir. It is well with you amen

Despite the fact that Llyod was attacked initially but that doesn't erase the despicable and barbaric act that was caught on tape. These individuals are supposed to be honourable members for God sake. Let them just sort out this issue once and for all,the president has his hands full already they shouldn't complicate issues for him and frankly the president needs to be cut some slack cos in all this brouhaha he is still making some amount of progress

Despite the fact that Llyod was attacked initially but that doesn't erase the despicable and barbaric act that was caught on tape. These individuals are supposed to be honourable members for God sake. Let them just sort out this issue once and for all,the president has his hands full already they shouldn't complicate issues for him and frankly the president needs to be cut some slack cos in all this brouhaha he is still making some amout of progress

Senate indicts President Jonathan, wife over Rivers crisis

By Tobi Adeyeye on July 26, 2013

The Senate has fingered President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, as the root causes of the political crises in Rivers State due to their perceived undue interference with the political and security structure of the state.

The report submitted by the Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration led by Senator Kabiru Gaya (PDP-Kano State) which was mandated with finding the problems and solutions of the crisis which culminated with a fracas in the State House of Assembly on July 9, 2013 also blamed the high-handedness of the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi and the interference of the national leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

The Senate in its report, which was considered and adopted at plenary, also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to “immediately” redeploy the commissioner of police, Rivers State command, Mr Joseph Mbu, since, according to the federal lawmakers, “his relationship with the governor has broken down irretrievably”.

Mbu has been fingered severally by the Amaechi camp as a hatchet man in the lingering Rivers crisis.

“Mbu has refused to cooperate with the governor, Chibuike Amaechi, on matters of security even though the governor is the chief security officer of the state,” said the report.

Senate president David Mark is also to mediate in the crisis between the feuding factions in the Assembly.

A crisis had engulfed the Rivers Assembly when five members out of 32 attempted to impeach the speaker, Hon Otelemaba Amachree. The confusion that followed led to violence among the state lawmakers with videos of the violence circulated on the social media

In the Senate report’s findings and observations, it was observed that Amaechi’s insistence to run for second term as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) did not go down well with the PDP and the presidency.

Citing feedback from “stakeholders” involved in the Rivers Assembly crisis, the report observed that the order of the FCT High Court, Abuja, of April 16, 2013, dissolving the Rivers State PDP Executive led by Chief Godspower Ake and confirming Hon. Felix Obuah as the authentic winner of the 2012 congress of the party in the state did not go down well with some members of the PDP who believed that the FCT High Court had no jurisdiction to have entertained the case.

The report stated that commissioner of police Mbu took over the party secretariat in the state upon knowledge of the Abuja High Court judgement and immediately withdrew the security details to the former chairman, Godspower Ake – a development that culminated in the assassination of an aide to Godspower Ake, Mr Eric Ezenekwe, by unidentified gunmen in the state.

Also, the suspension of Amaechi by the PDP National Working Committee on May 27 “did not go down well with his supporters,” the Senate report observed.

The report stated that the deployment of the current state police commissioner and three service commanders within six months created room for suspicion.

According to the report, “The security situation in Rivers State has deteriorated in the last six months, with high number of cases of kidnapping, cultism, bunkering and the gradual return of militants to the streets thereby threatening public peace.”

It faulted the impeachment of the Rivers Assembly speaker, Hon. Amachree, by five House members led by Hon. Evans Bipi. The report insisted that the purported impeachment is not compliance with the provisions of Section 92(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution and contrary  to Order 12 and 28 of the Rivers State House of Assembly Standing Orders, 1999.

The Senate report further accused Hon. Evans Bipi of bringing thugs to the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Senate report reads in part: “…The security personnel were insufficiently proactive in preventing and addressing the crisis at the Rivers State House of Assembly and the operational planning and response to the crisis.

“The crowd further forced their way into the chambers and interrupted the sitting of the House, and majority of the Honourable members had to run out of the Chambers for their safety.

“The Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amachree, and Hon. Chidi Llyod were assaulted by Hon. Evans Bipi which precipitated the crisis.

“Hon, Chidi Liyod used the Mace, which is the symbol of authority, to brutalise Hon. Michael Chinda.

“The governor of Rivers State rushed to the House of Assembly complex to salvage the situation on receipt of a distress call from a member of the House.

“Some security personnel particularly those in green and blue berets were actively engaged in a free for all figh in the Chambers on 9 July 2013.

“The security details to Governor Amaechi disarmed a policeman who cocked his gun to shoot and the policeman was injured in the process.”

The House of Representatives had on July 10 passed A resolution to take over the legislative functions of the Rivers Assembly and invoked section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), thereby taking over legislative transactions in the assembly.

Commenting on the issue, Senate president David Mark said, “We (senators) spent several hours this morning (yesterday) discussing in great detail the situation in Rivers State. We devoted so many hours because we believe it is important that we look at it from the prism of our own committee that went there to find out exactly what happened. And we are happy we sent our own team to go and investigate and report back to us.

“Our final objective — and throughout our discussion — was to ensure that peace returned to Rivers State. That was the focus of the discussion this morning. Our appeal to all the principal actors involved is that unless there is peace in Rivers State they cannot ensure development in Rivers State. We want development across the length and breadth of this country.

“Therefore, we use the opportunity once more before we go to the prayers to appeal that all those involved sheathe their sword so that peace can reign in Rivers State. The committee has not indicted any particular group of people. It has not indicted any section and I don’t think it has indicted any individual. The reason is because we want to ensure that there is peace.

The Senate as a body wants to be an integral part of the solution to the problem in Rivers State. We remain neutral. We’ve not taken sides with the group and we are not going to take sides but we will stand on facts. When we eventually approve our prayers, those prayers will be based on the facts that are known to us and our neutral position. And we hope that all the parties involved would appreciate that what we want to ensure is peace in Rivers State.

“All we want is that peace returns to Rivers State. Let me add that the Nation Assembly will uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as we all individually swore to do. And this we will do at all times and at all cost. Let me leave no one in doubt that the impunities of the past remain in the past. And the past is gone for good.

All that is left is for the proper lessons to be learnt from the past. Minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly cannot remove, and should therefore  never contemplate the impeachment of the speaker of the State House of Assembly or anyone else for that matter and should perish the thought if they ever harboured it.

Our Institutions of state must also uphold the constitution at all times and must not in any way encourage the impression that impunities of the past are possible today. This National Assembly, for the avoidance of doubt, would resist impunity and unconstitutionality. This is the stand of the Senate. And once more I must emphasise that we remain neutral and we want to see an end to the crisis in Rivers State.”
http://www.theheraldng.com/senate-indicts-president-jonathan-wife-over-rivers-crisis/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

[quote author=ASPchris]bastard like u [/quote) Calling someone a bastard cos he aired his own views. There is no way you can force your views on another without superior arguements. We have all had our mad days once in a while,we should try to be civil. If you have witnessed a human being burnt to death you will understand better. People have confessed under duress but if he is guilty God will judge him and those that killed him as well. The days of boko haram are numbered but I pray this civilian jtf don't become the tools of some evil politicians or become hijacked. God bless Nigeria and its citizens and may God give the President the wisdom to steer Nigeria out of this murky waters amen

May God grant those left behind the fortitude to bear the loss amen. It aint easy to lose a mother. Let's try and show human sympathy,death comes to us all at the end. This should be a time for sober reflection

Jenams: u r a enetical foool!

There is no need for such harsh words. OKOSODO in Esan language means a child born in the village so hope you understand why he decided to post such a reply.